Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics

The 1972 Summer Olympics were held in Munich, Munich, West Germany, 29 events in swimming (sport), swimming were contested. There was a total of 532 participants from 52 countries competing.

Perhaps the most spectacular athletic events were in swimming (sport), swimming. Mark Spitz had a remarkable run, competing in seven events, winning seven Olympic titles and setting seven world records. In 2008, Michael Phelps matched Spitz's feat of setting seven world records in a single Olympics. According to the official Olympic website, "He took part in the 4×200 m one hour after his final in the 100 m butterfly. As for the 200 m freestyle gold, it was his third medal in three days

On the women's side of the competition, Shane Gould of Australia won five medals. She won the 200 m and 400 m freestyle as well as the 200 m individual medley, each with a new world-record time. In addition, she won the silver and the bronze in the 800 m and 100 m freestyle, respectively. In 2022, Gould remains the only woman in history to have claimed five medals in solo events in swimming at a single Olympic Games. Another 15-years-old, American Sandy Neilson, won three gold medals.

The Olympic record was broken at least once in all 29 events. In 20 of those events, a new world record was set.

Events

The following events were contested (all pool events were long course, and distances are in metres unless otherwise stated):

*Freestyle swimming, Freestyle: 100 m, 200 m, 400 m, 800 m (women), 1500 m (men)
*Backstroke: 100 m, 200 m
*Breaststroke: 100 m, 200 m
*Butterfly stroke, Butterfly: 100 m, 200 m
*Medley swimming, Individual Medley: 200 m, 400 m
*Relay race, Relays: 4 × 100 m free, 4 × 200 m free (men); 4 × 100 m medley

Participating nations

532 swimmers from 52 nations competed.

Medal table

Results

Men's events

Women's events

Gallery of the medalists

Some of the Olympic medalists in Munich:

File:Mark Spitz.jpg, Mark Spitz, winner of the 100-metre freestyle, 200-metre freestyle, 100-metre butterfly, 200-metre butterfly, 4×100-metre freestyle relay, 4×200-metre freestyle relay, and 4×100-metre medley relay.
File:Mike Burton (swimmer).jpg, Mike Burton (swimmer), Mike Burton, winner of the 1500-metre freestyle.
File:Gunnar Larsson 1970.jpg, Gunnar Larsson (swimmer), Gunnar Larsson, winner of the 200-metre individual medley and 400-metre individual medley.
File:Shane Gould.jpg, Shane Gould, winner of the 200-metre freestyle, 400-metre freestyle, and 200-metre individual medley.
File:John Hencken c1974.jpg, John Hencken, winner of the 200-metre breaststroke.
File:Brad Cooper 1972.jpg, Brad Cooper, winner of the 400-metre freestyle.
File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-J0411-0003-001, Roland Matthes.jpg, Roland Matthes, winner of the 100-metre backstroke and 200-metre backstroke.
File:Cathy Carr 1972.jpg, Cathy Carr (swimmer), Cathy Carr, winner of the 100-metre breaststroke and 4×100-metre medley relay.
File:Melissa Belote 1974.jpg, Melissa Belote, winner of the 100-metre backstroke, 200-metre backstroke, and 4×100-metre medley relay.

References

{{Swimming at the Summer Olympics

Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics,
1972 Summer Olympics events
Swimming at the Summer Olympics, 1972
1972 in swimming